The grass-covered areas of the capped portions of the Sullivan County
Landfill in Monticello are potential nesting areas for several species
of grassland birds, including some that are threatened due to diminished
suitable habitat for nesting, e.g. Bobolinks and Meadowlarks. In
April SCAS President Valerie Freer sent a letter to the Sullivan County
Commissioner of Public Works requesting that they change the mowing schedule
of the landfill areas in order to allow ground-nesting birds the time
and the habitat necessary to complete the raising of their young.
The Commissioner replied to this request stating that “it does
seem to be possible to follow some of your suggestions in either leaving
small patches unmowed to provide cover in feeding areas until after July
15 or to rotate the mowing areas to provide needed cover for the bird
species you mentioned.”
We await the outcome of these changes in the mowing schedules of the
landfill and appreciate the county’s cooperation in this effort
to preserve the grassland habitat for the threatened bird species. A
small change can make a great difference!
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